Machine



(No ModeI 3 Sheets-Sheet 1.

R. JQSTUART.

SHEET PAPERIEEDING MACHINE. No. 282,014. Paten'tJuly 24, 883.

(No Model.) v 3 Sheets-Sheet 2.

' R. J. STUART.

SHEET PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. No. 282,014. Patented July 24, 1883.

N. PETERS. Pmw-Litbegn mr. WuMngWn. D. C.

(No Model.) 3 Sheets-Sheet 3.

R. J. STUART. SHEET PAPER FEEDING MACHINE. No. 282,014. Patented July 24, 1883.

. a w ill E dill I A UNITED V STATES PATENT OFFICE,

ROBERT J. STUART, OF POUGHKEEPSIE, NEWV YORK, ASSIGNOR TO THE SEDGWVIOK 8t STUART MANUFACTURING COMPANY, OF SAME PLACE.

SHEET-PAPER-FEEDING MACHINE.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 282,014, dated July 24, 1883.

Application filed October 11, 188i. (No model.)

. To all whom it may concern:

' Be it known that I, ROBERT J. STUART, residing in the city of Poughkeepsie, Dutchess county, and State of-New York, have invented a new and Improved Machine for Feeding Sheet-Paper; and I do hereby declare that the following is a full, clear, and exact description of the invention, which will enable others skilled in the art to which it appertains to 10 make and use the same.

The invention relates to a class of machines devised for the purpose of feeding sheet-paper automatically to printing-presses, ruling, folding, and calendering machines, and'to any and all other kinds of machines wherein sheetpaper is used.

First, the invention consists in the combination of a support for paper with a vertical rotary separating mechanism moving in the plane of the feed-table, for turning the top sheet, as will hereinafter appear.

Second, the invention also consists in the combination of a support for paper with the mechanism for turning the top sheet, and a 2 5 pivot resting on the paper, to determine the position of the top sheet while being turned on the pile, and to assist in keeping the underlying sheets in position while the top sheet is being turned, as will hereinafter appear.

Third, the invention also consists in the combination of a support for paper with a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table, for separating a single sheet from a pile of paper, as will hereinafter appear.

Fourth, the invention also consists in the combination of a support for paper with the slotted bracket G and a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table, for carrying a single sheet around and forward of the underlying sheets, as will hereinafter appear.

Fifth, the invention also consists in the combination of avertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table with pivoted holding-fingers, so that the paper is first carried back from under the finger and then forward over the fingers, and the support for paper, as will hereinafter appear.

Sixth, the inventionalso consists in the combination of avertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feedtable with rollers, or their equivalent, for earrying the separated sheet forward and into the machine, for the purpose desired, as will hereinafter appear. v

Seventh, the invention also consists in the combination of a support for paper with a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table, and a buckling device, as will hereinafter appear.

Eighth, the invention also consists in the combination of a support for paper and a vertical rotary separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table with the buckling device, and a pivoted finger for holding the underlying sheets, as will hereinafter appear.

Ninth, the invention also consists in the combination of a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table, and mechanism for lifting the same, and a support for paper, as will hereinafter appear. ,5

-Tenth, the invention also consists in the combination of a support for paper, avertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table, and separatingfingers that can be adjusted to describe an are of a larger or smaller circle.

Eleventh, the invention also consists in the combination of a; support for paper with a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in theplane of the feed-table,

which can be adjusted in its bracket to different sizes of sheetpaper without changing the relative position of the side'of the separated sheet with relation to the guide against which it comes in contact after being turned, as will hereinafter appear.

In the drawings similar letters represent similar parts in all the views.

Figure 1, Sheet 1, is a plan view, and Fig. 2 a sectional view, of the machine, showing the feed-board and a pile of paper; the holdingdo'wn fingers on the corners of the pile; the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device, and the different positions of the sheet while it is being separated and turned to a position on the pile; the rollers between which. it is caught and carried forward, and a part of the slotted bracket or frame which supports the separating device; the crank, the lever,

adjustable connecting-rod, and cam which op erates it; also the levers and cam which raise the top roller-to allow the separated sheet to pass under it; also the tapes and a part of the guide to which the sheet is carried; but the mechanism for lifting the vertical rotary separating device off the paper to allow the top sheet to be carried forward has not been shown in these views, as it is the same that is shown in Fig. 3, Sheet 2, and Fig. 4, Sheet 3; and as the frame, the guides against which the pile of paper is placed upon the feedtable, the mechanism for operating the feed-table, the tapes, rolls with diagonal tapes, the top roller for carrying the turned sheet into the tapes, and the guide to which the tapes bring the separated sheet are the same as is fully shown and described in my application for Letters Patent filed June 6, 1881, No. 35,011, now pending, it has not been deemed necessary to fully show or describe them here.

Fig. 3, Sheet 2, is a view in elevation, showing the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device, in combination with the buckling and separating device for which Letters Patent have been granted me March 25, 1873, No. 137,156, and March 25, 1879, No. 213,535. In this view, also, the guides against which the pile of paper is placed upon the feed-table, the mechanism for operating the feed-table, and the frame are not shown for the above reasons. The figures show the operation of this invention, consisting of the ieed-tal' le, pile of paper, buckling device, with the lever and cam which operate it; the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device, crank, slotted adjustable connecting rod, universal joint, lever, and cam, which operate the separating device; the slotted bracket to adjust the position of the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device; the sleeve in which the vertical shaft is held; the arrangement for lifting the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device off the pile in order to allow the turned sheet to be carried forward; the rollers and a part of the endless bands for carrying forward the separated sheet; also the holding-down finger on the corner of the pile of paper, and the arran gement for lifting the buckling device from the paper in order to allow the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device to turn the top sheet; also the shaft to which the various cams are secured.

Fig. 4, Sheet 3, is a plan or top view of the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device, in combination with the buckling device, the feed-table, and the guides against which the pile of paper is placed upon the table. The guide to which the tapes bring the separated sheet is not shown here; but in this view is shown a part of the right-hand side of the frame, to which is secured the stud upon which the various levers turn, and the bearing for the main shaft carrying the cams; also the feed-table and pile of paper-,with the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device in two different positions, and a sheet of paper as it has been turned by the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device to the proper position 011 top of the tape-roll, to be carried forward. There are also 'shown the links, levers, and cams which operate the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device, the mechanism for lifting the vertical rotary separating device off the pile of paper to allow the turned sheet to be carried forward, the buckling device, the finger for holding the corner of the sheet, and also for lifting the buckling device, (broken off;) also the tape-roll and tapes for carrying forward the separated sheet, partially shown.

Fig. 5, Sheet 3, is a sectional view of part of the arm and the separating-finger of the rotary reciprocating separating device.

A is a pile of paper.

13 is the feed-table.

G is a bracket or part of the frame, Figs. 1 and 3, Sheets 1 and 2, having a slot or groove in which is secured the sleeve 1, which forms a bearing for the vertical shaft D. To the shalt D is secured the bar E E, and to that are at tached the adjustable arms F F by screws am. To the arms F F are pivoted, by the screws a a, the adjustable separating-fingers a a, holding the rubbing-pads I) b, the fingers a a crossing above the bar E E, Fig. 5, Sheet 2, so that it may lift them off the paper when it israised to allow the separated sheet to be removed. Motion is given to the shaft D by means of the crank J, secured to the upper end of the shaft D, and provided with a stud, m, secured to the adjustable connecting-rod M by the nut m. The other end of the connecting-rod M is connected to the lever K by a universal joint, N. The lever K is pivoted at K, and receives its motion through the cam L on the shaft R; or a rack and pinion or other mechanism may be used to give motion to the shaft D.

V is a roll extending across the front of the machine, with grooves in its face for the endless tape lt k, onto which the paper is fed.

S is a roller working in bearings in the le vers T T, pivoted to the shaft Z, and receives its motion through the cam U on the shaft R. The lower end of the shaftD is used as a pivot, Fig. 3, Sheet 2, resting on the top of the pile of paper; or an adjustable sleeve, 1), on the shaft D may be used as a pivot, as in Fig. 5, Sheet 2. The fingers a a, with the rubbingpads I) I), are also shown resting on the paper.

5 To the bracket 0 is secured the slotted parallel bar G by the links H H and screws 8 .9. To one end is connected, by the stud 3*, the lever O, which turns 011 the shaft K, and receives its motion through the cam I coming in contact with the friction-roll 0, thus lifting the shaft D through the bar G and crank J, Fig. 3, Sheet 2, the buckling device consisting of the roller Z, resting on the paper and secured to the arm Y, which is pivoted to the slotted lever Q, to which is also pivoted the finger X, holding the rubbing-pad X. The lever Q is pivoted at K, and receivesits motion through the cam R on the shaft R. I

W is a finger pivoted to the frame of the machine, with the other end resting 011 one corner of the paper, and has, a projection or friction-roll, d, for the purpose of lifting the lever X, which also comes in contact with the projection e on the arm Y and lifts it.

C, Fig. 4, Sheet 3, shows a part of the frame to which is secured the stud K, upon which the levers K, O, and Q turn.

R is the main shaft, to which are the cams R, L, and I.

Having described the various pieces and parts of the machine, its operation is as fol lows: The pile of paper A is placed upon the feed-table B against guides (not shown) for reasons before stated, with the holding-down fingers h and WV resting 011 the front edge of the pile of paper, the position of the paper A on the feed-table B being marked by the lines o 0 0 0, Fig. 1, Sheet 1. Thevertical rotary reciproeating separating device is then placed in position for the size of the paper in use by adjusting the sleeve I in the slotted bracket 0 and securing it by the nut 0, so that it willcarry the front edge of the sheet when turned on top of the pile or support for paper forward between the rolls V and S. In the sleeve Iturns freely the vertical shaft D, which supports the cross-bar E E, carrying the adjustable arms F F, with the fingers a aholding the rubbingpads b b, resting on the top of the pile of paper A. The lower end of the vertical shaft 1) also rests on top of the paper, acting as a pivot to determine the position of the separated sheet when turned on the pile; but the rotary reciprocatingseparating device may be successfully operated without the pivot resting on the paper, but the pivot is preferable, as it insures a greater degree of accuracy in the separation of the paper. Rotary motion is now communicated by the cam L on the main shaft R to the lever K, adjustable connecting-rod M, and vertical shaft D, to the fin gers a a, holding the rubbing-pads b b, which turn the top sheet back in the direction of the arrow 10, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, the rounded end of the shaft D answering as a pivot on which the sheet turns as it is drawn from under the fingers h and W. The sheet now assumes a position marked by the broken lines 1) p p p. I The fingers 71 and NV resting on the next sheet, the separating-fingers a a are now rotated in the opposite direction, (marked by the arrow r,) and the top sheet is turned forward and over the fingers hand NV until it assumes the position marked by the dotted lines 1 q q q, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, and by w 10, Fig. 2, Sheet 1. The separating device is now raised from the pile of paper, as shown in Fig. 2, Sheet 1. The mechanism for lifting the vertical rotaryseparating device off the-pile is not shown here, being the same as secured is shown in Figs. 3 and 4, Sheets 2 and 3, to

part of the separated sheet as it is turned on A the pile by the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device, and the top roller, S, raised to allow the separated sheet to pass beneath it as it is turned, (Fi g. 3, Sheet 2,) after which the roller S is brought in contact with the roller V by means of levers T T, and the turned sheet is drawn off the pile onto the diagonal tapes or bands, which carry it forward and to the guide I). \Vhile the turned sheet is being carried forward, and the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device is held off the paper, its motion is reversed by means of the cam Land the friction-roll, K which is held to the face of the cam by weight or spring, and the separating-fingers aa returned to their first position, Fig. 1, Sheet 1, and allowed to descend until they rest 011 the pile of paper, ready to turn the next sheet.

Fig. 3, Sheet 2, .and Fig. 4, Sheet 3, show the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device, in combination with the buckling device, already secured by Letters Patent, as referred to before. In this case the buckling device is used to draw the corner of the top sheet from under the holding-down finger \V, which held it, and allow the finger V to rest on the next sheet. WVhen the vertical rotary sepan ting device is used in combination withthe buckling device, the finger h is dispensed with, as the paper is turned in one direction only, and asthe buckling device returns it brings the separated corner of thebuckled sheet back 011 top of the finger V, and continues its motion until the projection or roll (1 comes in contact with the rubbing finger X, lilting it off the paper, and as the rubbingfinger X is raised it comes in contact with the pin (1 on the arm Y of the buckling device, raising it also from the paper, bringing the weight of the finger X and arm Yonto the finger XV, thus assisting it in holding the underlying sheets in proper position, while the vertical rotary reciprocating separating device turns the sheet that has been partially separated by the buckling device from the positions 0 0 o 0, Fig. 4, Sheet 3, in the direction of the arrow, to the position q q q q, to be carried forward by the rollers S and V, or by nippers or other mechanism, for the purpose required. It will be seen that in this View, Fig. 4, Sheet 3, the turned sheet q q q q assumes a different position 011 the top of the pile of paper with relation to the right-hand side of the feedtable from that in Fig. 1, Sheet 1. In the latter case the vertical shaft, in whatever part of the bracket 0 it maybe placed, (to allow the separating-fingers a a to describe an arc of a larger or smaller circle as the size of paper may require, and also to determine the distance the distance from the front and side guides of the feedtable, so that in all cases the edge of the sheet coming neXt the side guides will be in line with them when turned but in this view, Fig. 4, Sheet 3, while the slotted bracket and separating mechanism are substantially the same as in Fig. 1, Sheet 1, it is so placed in the machine that the vertical shaft, in whatever part of the bracket it may be placed, will be at a greater distance from the side than the front guides, and the paper,when turned on the pile, will be carried a corresponding distance from the side guides to give the buckling device time to operate on the remaining sheets while the separated sheet is being carried oil" the pile.

When the vertical rotary reciprocating; separating device is used in combination with the buckling device, it is not deemed necessary to turn the paper in both directions to insure the separation of a single sheet, as the hOldinglinger, resting on the cornereof the underlying sheets, after the buckling device has drawn the top sheet from under it, keeps them from turning 011 the pile.

Having described my invcntion,what I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States, is

1. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for paper with a vertical rotary separating mechanism moving in the plane of the i'eedtable, for turning the top sheet, substantially as described.

2. In a paperi'eeding machine, the combination of a support for paper with the 1nechanism, substantially as-(lescribed, for turning the top sheet, anda pivot resting on the paper to determine the position of the sheet when turned on the pile, and to assist in keeping the underlying sheets in proper position while the top sheet is being turned, substantially as described.

3. In a paper-feeding machine, the co1nbination of a support for paper with a vertical rotary reciprocatingseparating device moving in the plane of the feed-table, for separating a single sheet from a pile of paper, sub stantially as described.

4. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for paper with the slotted bracket 0, and a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device, substantially as described, for turninga single sheet around and forward of the underlying sheets, substantially as described.

5. In a paper-feeding machine, the co1nbination of a support for paper with a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table, and the piv oted holding-finger IV and 71, substantially as described.

(3. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for paper with a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feedtable, and rollers for carrying the separated sheet from oil the pile, substantially as described.

7. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for paper with a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table, and a buck ling device, substantially as described.

8. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for paper with a vertical rotary separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table, a buckling device, and the pivoted holding-finger IV, substantially as described.

9. In a paper-feeding machine, the combi-.

nation of a support for paper with a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device 1noving in the plane of the feed-table, and mechanism for lifting the same, substantially as described.

10. In a paper feeding machine, the combination of a support for paper with a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table, and separatingiingers that can be adjusted to describe an arc of a larger or smaller circle, substantially as described.

ll. In a paper-feeding machine, the combination of a support for paper with a vertical rotary reciprocating separating device moving in the plane of the feed-table, which. can be adjusted in the bracket 0 to different sizes ot'sheet-paper without changing the relative position of one side of the separated sheet with relation to the guide 72,\with which it comes in contact alter being turned, substantially as de scribed.

ROBERT J. STUART.

lVi tn esses:

A. SnncwIcK, 16. N. BROWN. 

